Professor Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous and remarkable scientists of our age and the author of the scientific bestseller A Brief History of Time, which has sold more than 25 million copies. In this compelling memoir, his first wife, Jane Hawking, relates the inside story of their extraordinary marriage. As Stephen's academic renown soared, his body was collapsing under the assaults of a motor neuron disease. Jane's candid account of trying to balance his 24-hour care with the needs of their growing family reveals the inner strength of the author, while the self-evident character and achievements of her husband make for an incredible tale presented with unflinching honesty. Jane's candor is no less apparent when the marriage finally ends in a high-profile meltdown, with Stephen leaving Jane for one of his nurses and Jane marrying an old family friend. In this exceptionally open, moving, and often funny memoir, Jane Hawking confronts not only the acutely complicated and painful dilemmas of her first marriage, but also the relationship's fault lines exposed by the pervasive effects of fame and wealth. The result is a book about optimism, love, and change that will resonate with readers everywhere.
Jane Hawking, who was Stephen Hawking's wife for more than 25 years, is a writer, a lecturer, and the author of At Home in France.
"A great read." - Daily Mail
"Stephen Hawking may think in 11 dimensions, but his first wife has learnt to love in several." - The Sunday Times
"What becomes of time when a marriage unravels? And what becomes of the woman who has located her whole self within its sphere? For Jane Hawking, the physics of love and loss are set in a private universe." - The Guardian
"Jane describes the final, painful years of her marriage in candid detail." - The Independent
"Jane Hawking’s harrowing and compelling account . . . rings very true." - Irish Times
"This is not a vindictive book, although the agony she went through is palpable; if Stephen’s struggle to keep his mind clear is heroic, so is her determination to balance his escalating needs and those of their three children." - Independent on Sunday
"Jane writes about her former husband with tenderness, respect and protectiveness." - Sunday Express
"Jane Hawking has written a book about what it was like to be pivotal to her husband’s celebrated existence . . . but it is much more a shout from the outer darkness." - The Daily Telegraph
